Cross-Listing and Capital Investment Decisions

Abstract

This study examines how cross-listing in the U.S. relates to the efficiency of capital investment decisions. We find that U.S. cross-listed firms exhibit greater investment efficiency than foreign firms not cross-listing in the U.S. We then explore whether this finding is related to the type of cross-listing (exchange vs. non-exchange) and the strength of the home country disclosure environment. We observe a stronger association between cross-listing and investment efficiency for exchange-listed ADRs, subject to U.S. disclosure and enforcement requirements, than for non-exchange listed ADRs. We further find that this association is largely concentrated in exchange-listed firms from weaker home country disclosure environments where the potential benefits of cross-listing in the U.S. are greater. Our findings provide new evidence regarding the possible internal benefits to cross-listing. For instance, we provide evidence that actual managerial decisions, specifically capital investment efficiency, are associated with cross-listing.